Hollywood
Imax & Warner Bros extend multi-film deal through 2020
MUMBAI: Imax Corporation and Warner Bros. Pictures have entered into a multi-picture agreement to release up to 30 films from the studio’s slate through 2020 as a continuation of the companies’ longstanding partnership.
Under the agreement, Imax will be part of a number of high-profile tentpoles from Warner Bros. Pictures, including The Man from U.N.C.L.E. , In the Heart of the Sea, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the Tarzan movie, the King Arthur movie, Suicide Squad, Geostorm, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Jungle Book: Origins, and Godzilla 2.
The deal also encompasses a number of upcoming DC tentpoles, as well as future LEGO movies, including The LEGO Movie Sequel.
“We’ve had an incredible partnership with Warner Bros. for more than 10 years, which has helped Imax filmgoers enjoy Warner movies around the world. We’re excited and grateful to extend that partnership,” said Imax CEO Richard L. Gelfond.
“With this multi-picture deal, Imax and Warner Bros. continue a lengthy and substantial partnership, which is invested in bringing the highest-quality entertainment to the most awe-inspiring cinematic experience. But at its core, this deal enriches and broadens Imax’s relationship with key filmmakers, who have always been a top priority for Warner Bros. in bringing the most compelling cinema to audiences around the world,” added Imax Corp senior executive vice president and Imax Entertainment CEO Greg Foster.
Warner Bros. Pictures president, domestic distribution Dan Fellman said, “Imax provides an immersive moviegoing experience that is unparalleled. We have an exciting and extremely diverse slate and look forward to giving audiences the opportunity to see a variety of films on the largest possible canvas.”
Warner Bros. Pictures president, international distribution Veronika Kwan Vandenberg said, “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Imax on these much-anticipated projects and more to come. Increasingly over the years, international audiences are opting to watch movies on large-format screens, taking advantage of the premium visual and sound quality offered by Imax.”
The Imax release of each film will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The Imax Experience with proprietary Imax DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology.
Hollywood
Paramount eyes $24bn Gulf support to fund Warner Bros Discovery merger: Reports
Sovereign funds line up funding as media giants chase streaming scale
NEW YORK: Paramount Skydance is in talks to secure nearly $24 billion in equity commitments from Gulf sovereign wealth funds to support its planned takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, according to a WSJ report.
The funding push comes as Paramount Skydance advances its proposed $110 billion deal for Warner Bros. Discovery, which carries an equity valuation of $81 billion and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.
At the heart of the financing plan are three major Gulf investors. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is expected to contribute roughly $10 billion, while the Qatar Investment Authority and Abu Dhabi-based L’imad Holding are likely to make up the remainder.
Crucially, the proposed investments are structured as non-voting stakes. This means the Gulf backers would not have direct control in the combined entity, a move designed to ease regulatory concerns in the United States. Paramount executives reportedly do not expect the deal to trigger scrutiny from bodies such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States or the Federal Communications Commission.
If completed, the merger would bring together a formidable portfolio of entertainment and news assets, including CNN and CBS. The combined entity aims to better compete in a fast-evolving media landscape where streaming platforms are steadily pulling audiences away from traditional television.
The deal reflects a broader shift in global media, where scale is increasingly seen as essential to survive the streaming wars. By pooling content libraries, technology and distribution, Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery are betting on size and synergy to drive future growth.
The involvement of deep-pocketed Gulf investors also underscores the growing role of sovereign wealth in shaping global media consolidation, particularly at a time when high-value deals demand equally large financial backing.
With shareholder votes and regulatory milestones still ahead, the proposed tie-up remains one of the most closely watched media deals of the year. If it clears the final hurdles, it could redraw the competitive map of the global entertainment industry.
